In the oil and gas exploration industry, uncertainty in subsurface stability is a major challenge in planning safe and stable drill pad locations. Traditional desktop geology and geotechnical borings often fail to resolve the true extent of subsurface variability, especially in regions where faults, fractures, or karst features are present. At a project site in New Mexico, project managers needed more clarity on potential geohazard risks before committing to a drill pad location.
Aestus deployed its GeoTrax Viz™ service (4 TIERS of Engagement) — powered by a proprietary electrical resistivity imaging method (Our Subsurface Imaging Technology) — to generate high-resolution 2D cross-sections and a 3D model of electrical resistivity across the site. Because lithology, fracturing, moisture content, and void space strongly influence the electrical resistivity, geologic variations are continuously mapped, and the resulting model provided a means of identifying potential hazard zones.
At the New Mexico site, the imaging clearly differentiated competent bedrock from zones of reduced stability, including features such as: potential sinkholes and voids, faults, structurally weakened areas, and tilted bedding. Integrating the GeoTrax Survey™ results with regional geologic information allowed the team to delineate low-, moderate-, and high-risk areas with confidence, seen in the two graphics.
This clarity supported more informed placement of the drill rig and associated heavy equipment, reduced the likelihood of unanticipated subsurface problems, and helped the operator avoid unnecessary costs. As with many projects, early-stage geophysical imaging offered a practical and cost-effective way to minimize geologic risk and improve the reliability of site-planning decisions.
